Overview
Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites are major health concerns not only in India but also across the globe. The major goals of this department are to carry out cutting-edge research toward improved knowledge on diseases by infectious diseases. Additionally, we are involved in academic programs of the institute, which include undergraduate, post-graduate, and Ph.D. teaching programs in bio-medical science, food safety and biotechnology, and marine microbiology and biotechnology. The faculty members of the department are involved in research related to the diagnosis, prevalence, prevention, and control of causative agents of various infectious diseases and the implementation of intervention strategies. This research group has major strengths in bioinformatics and comparative genomics are the analysis of infectious diseases including parasitic, viral, or bacterial diseases. With the ever-increasing availability of whole genome sequences, the doors to knowledge and discovery are always open. The group is also involved in investigating microbial diversity, development of novel diagnostics, understanding of drug resistance mechanisms, disease transmission, virulence mechanisms of disease, etc. This promotes biomedical and technological advancement that translates the knowledge to develop novel drugs, vaccines, diagnostic reagents, and disease control strategies.
Programs
- B.Sc. (Honours) Biomedical Science
- M.Sc. Biomedical Science
- M.Sc. Food Safety & Biotechnology
- M.Sc. Biotechnology
- M.Sc. Microbiology
- M.Sc. Marine Biotechnology
Thrust Areas
- Infectious Disease Biology
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Host-Pathogen Interaction
- Rapid Diagnostics and Novel
- Biomarkers for Infectious Diseases
- Novel Biocontrol Strategies against Infectious Agents
- Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics
- Drug Discovery and Therapeutics
Dr. PRAVEEN RAI
- Designation HOD & Associate Professor G-II
- Email raiprav@nitte.edu.in
- Contact No.
- Joining date
Dr. Praveen Rai did PhD (Molecular Virology) from Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar. He joined NUCSER in 2014. He has 36 research publications in highly rated journals of international standard, mostly related to molecular characterization of microbial pathogens. Currently, his research focuses on molecular characterization of Dengue and Rotaviruses, development of point of care diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2, Dengue virus, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Malaria Parasite and Leptospira, Screening of antiviral compounds, Host-Pathogen Interaction, RNA Interference and Phage based biocontrol technologies. His research work is supported by various agencies such as SERB, DST, DBT, ICMR and Nitte (DU).
- Master of Science (Microbiology), Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, 2008
- Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology), Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, 2013
- Associate Professor – Grade II, Nitte University Centre for science education and research, Mangaluru (2022- to date)
- Associate professor - Grade I, Nitte University Centre for science education and research, Mangaluru (2018- 2022)
- Epidemiology and molecular characterization of human and animal viruses
- Host-pathogen Interaction
- Molecular diagnostics
- RNA interference
- Phage based biocontrol technologies
- Young Scientist Award, DST-SERB, Gov. of India, 2015-2018
- SAKURA science award, University of Miyazaki, Japan, 2015
- Dr. C.V Kulakarni Award for the Best PhD research, 2013 • Dr. N. R Menon Award for the Best Indian M.Sc. Thesis, 2009. • Dr. Jalihal Endowment Award for the All-India best Master's Degree Research in Fisheries, 2008-2009.
- Coordinator, Staff Development Centre, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional Academic and Administrative Audit Committee, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional Committee for Development of Professional Competence in Teaching, NUCSER
- Institutional Research Coordinator, NUCSER
- Member Secretary, Biological Sciences Education Unit, NUCSER
- Member, Research Cell, NUCSER
- Subject Expert, Scientific Committee, Nitte DU
- Member, Institutional Ethical Committee, NUINS
- Member, Sub-Committee of the Board of Research Studies, Nitte DU
- Member, Institutional Committee Against Substance Abuse, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional Academic committee, NUCSER Member, Hostel Committee, NUCSER
- Member, International Society of Infectious Diseases, USA.
- Life Member, Society of Biological Chemists, India
- Life Member, Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), India
- Member, Professional Fisheries Graduates' Forum (PFGF), India
- Member, College of Fisheries Alumni Association, Mangalore, India
Journal publications:
- Prerana S, Ashwini P, Anupama KP, Prajna VS, Prithvisagar KS, Nayak A, Rai P, Rohit A, Karunasagar I, Karunasagar I, Maiti B. Evaluation of reverse transcriptase-polymerase spiral reaction assay for rapid and sensitive detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Clinica Chimica Acta. 2023 Jan 15. 539: 144-150
- Maiti B, Anupama KP, Rai P, Karunasagar I, Karunasagar I. Isothermal amplification‐based assays for rapid and sensitive detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: Opportunities and recent developments. Reviews in Medical Virology. 2022 Mar;32(2):e2274.
- Rai P, Shetty SS, Prabell S, Kuntar A, Pinto D, Kumar BK, Divyashree M, Raj JR, Premanath R, Deekshit VK, Karunasagar I. Characterisation of broad-spectrum phiKZ like jumbo phage and its utilisation in controlling multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Microbial Pathogenesis. 2022 Nov 1;172:105767.
- Ashwath P, Deekshit VK, Rohit A, Rai P, Aditya V, Babu N, Karunasagar I, Dharnappa Sannejal A. Sequence-Specific Gene Silencing of acrA in the Multi-drug Efflux System AcrAB Induces Sensitivity in Drug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Molecular Biotechnology. 2022 Nov 15:1-8.
- Badekila AK, Rai P, Kini S. Identification and evaluation of an appropriate housekeeping gene for real time gene profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma cells cultured in three dimensional scaffold. Molecular Biology Reports. 2022 Jan;49(1):797-804.
- Rai P, Kumar BK, Deekshit VK, Karunasagar I, Karunasagar I. Detection technologies and recent developments in the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2021 Jan 4:1-5.
- Kumar BK, Rohit A, Prithvisagar KS, Rai P, Karunasagar I, Karunasagar I. Deletion in the C-terminal region of the envelope glycoprotein in some of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 genome. Virus Research. 2021 Jan 2;291:198222.
- Venkatraja B, Srilakshminarayana G, Kumar BK, Hegde MN, Kanchan J, Karuvaje G, Rai P. Preliminary Evidence from a Cross-sectional Study on Epidemiology and Early Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 in Karnataka State of India. Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU. 2021 May 11.
- Apine E, Rai P, Mani MK, Subramanian V, Karunasagar I, Godhe A, Turner LM. Comparative analysis of the intestinal bacterial communities in mud crab Scylla serrata in South India. MicrobiologyOpen. 2021 Apr;10(2):e1179.
- Rai P, Kille S, Kotian A, Kumar BK, Deekshit VK, Ramakrishna MS, Karunasagar I, Karunasagar I. Molecular investigation of the dengue outbreak in Karnataka, South India, reveals co-circulation of all four dengue virus serotypes. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2021 Aug 1;92:104880.
- D'Souza, C., Kumar, B.K., Rai, P., Deekshit, V.K., Karunasagar, I., (2019). Application of gyrB targeted SYBR green based qPCR assay for the specific and rapid detection of Vibrio vulnificus in seafood. J Microbiol Methods. 2019 Nov;166:105747.
All Publications:
Google scholar ID: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9Yr9nlIAAAAJ&hl=en
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Praveen_Rai
Web of Science Researcher ID: ABE-8528-2020
Orcid ID: 0000-0002-3695-4178
Scopus ID: 26030010600
Conference publications: 25
Patents Published
- Praveen Rai; Krishna Kumar B; Deekshit; Juliet MohanRaj. Consortium of Broad-spectrum jumbo bacteriophages for control of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Application no. 202141044837.
- Biswajit Maiti; Praveen Rai; Karanth Padyana Anupama. Unique molecular primers to detect SARS- CoV-2 by polymerase spiral reaction assay. Application no. 202141030214
- Biswajit Maiti; Praveen Rai; Karanth Padyana Anupama; Krishna Kumar Ballamoole. Unique primers for rapid detection test for SARS- CoV-2 using loop-mediated isothermal amplification. Application no. 202141030297
PhD students: 05 (ongoing) PG Students: 09 (completed) UG Students: 06 (completed): Other students: 02
Undergraduate:
- Basics of Molecular Biology
- Medical Virology
- Biosafety and Bioethics
- Human Pathology
Postgraduate:
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Ongoing:
As PI:
- Development of immunofluorescent nanodiagnostic assay as a point-of-care detection of dengue virus, Funded by DST-BDTD, 2021-2023 [Budget: 21.86 lakhs]
- Development of monoclonal antibody against NS1 and E proteins of dengue virus, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2019-2021 [Budget: 1.9 lakhs].
- Antiviral properties of four medicinal plant extracts against dengue virus, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2018-2020 [Budget: 1.6 lakhs].
As Co-PI/Co-I:
- Elucidation of platelet activation and NLRP3 inflammasome response in platelets during invasive Vibrio vulnificus infection to understand its potential role in the immunopathogenesis- Funded by ICMR, 2022-2025 [Budget: 27.62 lakhs].
- Evaluation of cellular and organismal cytotoxicity of Arecanut aqueous extract- Funded by CAMPCO, 2021-2022.
- A novel dietary approach for foetal programming of major chronic disorders in adult life using Albino Wistar Rats-an experimental case control study, Funded by ICMR, 2019-2022 [Budget: 23.0 lakhs].
- Tracing the molecular epidemiology of Leptospirosis and assessing its zoonotic transmission potential in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2019-2021 [Budget: 1.9 lakhs].
- Development of a cancer model in three dimensional scaffolds for biomedical applications, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2019-2021 [Budget: 1.9 lakhs]
Projects completed:
As PI:
- Biocontrol of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in culture systems using bacteriophages, Funded by DST-SERB, 2015-2018 [Budget: 22.40 lakhs].
- Isolation and molecular characterization of bacteriophage against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2016-2017 [Budget: 1.15 lakhs].
As Co-PI/Co-I:
- Rapid and sensitive detection of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) using isothermal nucleic acid amplification, Funded by DST-SERB, 2020-2021 [Budget: 17.46 Lakhs].
- Novel RNAi therapeutic approach to combat multidrug resistance in Klebsiella species, funded by NitteDU, 2018-2020 [Budget: 1.80 lakhs]
- Development of novel methods for the sensitive detection and enumeration of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Funded by DBT, 2016-2019 [Budget: 29.0 lakhs].
- Biofilm formation and virulence gene expression in environmental and clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2016-2017 [Budget: 1.2 lakhs].
- Abstracts in national/ international conference: 15
- Abstracts in national/ international conference: 14
- Nucleotide sequence submissions to NCBI GenBank: 60
- Expressed sequence tag sequence submissions: 4984
- Whole genome sequence (Bacteria/Viruses/Bacteriophages) submission:10
- Invited Talks /Oral Presentation (National/International): 02
- National / International workshops / conferences / symposium attended: 30
Dr Deekshit
- Designation Associate Professor G-I
- Email deekshit1486@nitte.edu.in
- Contact No. .
- Joining date
Dr. Deekshit completed his PhD (Microbiology) from Manipal University and had been worked as a research associate at UNESCO MIRCEN for Marine Biotechnology (KVAFSU), Mangalore. He did his short-term post-doc at University College Dublin, Ireland in the year 2018. His research focus includes molecular characterization of nontyphoidal Salmonella with special consideration to their antibiotic resistance mechanism which led to the detection of class 1 integrons in Salmonella Weltevreden and silent antibiotic resistance genes in some non-typhoidal isolates of Salmonella. Further, he developed a PCR for the simultaneous detection of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 and its antibiotic resistance genes. He has also developed a Miss Match mutation PCR assay for the detection of QRDR mutation in fluoroquinolone resistant E. coli. His research interest includes identifying the characteristics of multidrug resistant gut pathogens in simulated gut condition, developing nanobiotics against MDR gut pathogens and determining the anticancer ability non-typhoidal Salmonella in vitro.
- Master of Fisheries Microbiology (M.FSc.), KVAFSU, 2009
- Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology), Manipal University, 2014
- Associate Professor G-I, Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research (2022-till date)
- Assistant Professor G-II, Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research (2018- 2022)
- Assistant Professor G-I, Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research (2014-2018)
- Research Associate, KVAFSU (2012-2014)
- Infectious Disease Biology (Bacteriology)
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
- Member, Antiaging Committee, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional committee against sexual harassment, NUCSER
- Member, Information and Communication Technology Cell, NUCSER
- In-charge, Academic Committee, NUCSER
- Coordinator, NUeLearn 2020-21, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional COVID-19 task force, NUCSER
- Member, Antiaging Committee, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional committee against sexual harassment, NUCSER
- Member, Information and Communication Technology Cell, NUCSER
- In-charge, Academic Committee, NUCSER
- Coordinator, NUeLearn 2020-21, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional COVID-19 task force, NUCSER
- Rani, M.S., Rohit. A., Aditya, V., Shetty, V.P., Kotian, A., Mohanapriya, P., Rai. P., Karunasagar, I., Deekshit, V. K. (2021) Comparative analysis of different methods used for molecular characterization of Burkholderia cepacia complex isolated from noncystic fibrosis conditions Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, (In Press)
- Aditya, V., Kotian, A., Saikrishnan, S., Rohit, A., Divyashree, M., Karunasagar, I., Deekshit, V.K. (2021) Effect of ciprofloxacin and in-vitro gut conditions on biofilm of Escherichia coli isolated from clinical and environmental sources. Journal of Applied Microbiology. (In Press)
- Jazeela, K., Chakraborty, A., Kotian, A., Aditya, V., Kumar, B.K., Rai, P., Karunasagar, I., Deekshit, V.K. (2021). Phenotypic characterization of auxotrophic mutant of nontyphoidal Salmonella and determination of its cytotoxicity, tumor inhibiting cytokine gene expression in cell line models. Archives of Microbiology, 203(6), 2925-2939
- Rai, P., Kumar, B.K., Deekshit, V.K., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. (2021) Detection technologies and recent developments in the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,105(2), 441-455
- Caroline D'Souza, Prithvisagar K. S., Deekshit, V.K., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. and Kumar B. K. (2020) Exploring the Pathogenic Potential of Vibrio vulnificus Isolated from Seafood Harvested along the Mangaluru Coast, India. Microorganisms, 1-15
- Akshatha, K., Aditya, V., Jazeela, K., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I., Deekshit V.K., (2020) Effect of bile on growth and biofilm formation of multidrug resistant and sensitive non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars isolated from seafood and poultry. Research in Microbiology. 171;165-173
- Jazeela, K., Chakraborty, A., Karunasagar, I., Deekshit, V.K. (2020). Nontyphoidal Salmonella: a potential anticancer agent. Journal of applied microbiology. 128(1):2-14
- Deekshit, V.K., Jazeela, K., Chakraborty, G., Rohit, A., Chakraborty, A., Karunasagar, I. (2019) Mismatch amplification mutation assay-polymerase chain reaction: A method of detecting fluoroquinolone resistance mechanism in bacterial pathogens. Indian Journal of Medical Research.149(2):146-150
- Jazeela, K., Chakraborty, G., Shetty, S.S., Rohit, A., Karunasagar. I., Deekshit, V.K. (2019) Comparison of Mismatch Amplification Mutation Assay PCR-and PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism for Detection of Major Mutations in gyrA and parC of Escherichia coli Associated with Fluoroquinolone Resistance. Microbial Drug Resistance 25(1):23-31
Patent filed: 01
- Deekshit VK, Maiti B, Kumar BK, Kotian A, Pinto G, Reantaso M, Karunasagar I, Karunasagar I. Antimicrobial resistance in fish pathogens and alternative risk mitigation strategies. Reviews in Aquaculture, 2022.
- Deekshit VK, Srikumar S. 'To be, or not to be'-The dilemma of 'silent'antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2022 Nov;133(5):2902-14.
- Aditya V, Kotian A, Sanil A, Thaseena PM, Karunasagar I, Deekshit VK. Survival and Virulence Potential of Drug-Resistant E. coli in Simulated Gut Conditions and Antibiotic Challenge. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022 Oct 6;19(19):12805.
- Kotian A, Aditya V, Sheikh J, Saikrishnan S, Rai P, Chakraborty A, Karunasagar I, Deekshit VK. Effect of NaCl, high iron, iron chelator and antibiotics on growth, virulence gene expression and drug susceptibility in non-typhoidal Salmonella: an in vitro fitness study. Archives of Microbiology. 2022 Nov;204(11):1-9.
- Prabhakara AM, Nanjappa DP, Kotian A, Kalladka K, Chakraborty G, Vittal R, Raj JR, Deekshit VK, Chakraborty A. Wild-type and cancer-prone zebrafish exhibit distinct gut microbial diversity and differential anti-inflammatory response upon infection. Journal of Biosciences. 2022 Dec;47(4):1-10.
- Rani MS, Rohit A, V. Aditya, Shetty VP, Kotian A, Mohanapriya P, Rai P, Karunasagar I, Deekshit VK. Comparative analysis of different methods used for molecular characterization of Burkholderia cepacia complex isolated from noncystic fibrosis conditions. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2022, 40;74-80
- Aditya V, Kotian A, Saikrishnan S, Rohit A, Divyashree M, Karunasagar I, V K Deekshit. Effect of ciprofloxacin and in-vitro gut conditions on biofilm of Escherichia coli isolated from clinical and environmental sources. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2022, 132 964-977.
- Jazeela, K., Chakraborty, A., Kotian, A., Aditya, V., Kumar, B.K., Rai, P., Karunasagar, I., Deekshit, V.K. (2021). Phenotypic characterization of auxotrophic mutant of nontyphoidal Salmonella and determination of its cytotoxicity, tumor inhibiting cytokine gene expression in cell line models. Archives of Microbiology, 203(6), 2925-2939.
- Caroline D'Souza, Prithvisagar K. S., Deekshit, V.K., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. and Kumar B. K. (2020) Exploring the Pathogenic Potential of Vibrio vulnificus Isolated from Seafood Harvested along the Mangaluru Coast, India. Microorganisms, 1-15.
- Akshatha, K., Aditya, V., Jazeela, K., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I., Deekshit V.K., (2020) Effect of bile on growth and biofilm formation of multidrug resistant and sensitive non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars isolated from seafood and poultry. Research in Microbiology. 171;165-173.
- Jazeela, K., Chakraborty, A., Karunasagar, I., Deekshit, V.K. (2020). Nontyphoidal Salmonella: a potential anticancer agent. Journal of applied microbiology. 128(1):2-14.
- Deekshit, V.K., Jazeela, K., Chakraborty, G., Rohit, A., Chakraborty, A., Karunasagar, I. (2019) Mismatch amplification mutation assay-polymerase chain reaction: A method of detecting fluoroquinolone resistance mechanism in bacterial pathogens. Indian Journal of Medical Research.149(2):146-150.
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=u-H2oNsAAAAJ&hl=en
WoS: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/summary/4367c4db-6814-4477-a51f-59956e384aa6-685ac69e/relevance/1
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3535-5528
Patent Applied: 01
Temp/E-1/47842/2021-CHE (Filled on 20th September 2021). Consortium of Broad-spectrum jumbo bacteriophages for control of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Rai, P., Kumar, B.K., Deekshit V.K., Juliet Mohan Raj (Applied)
• PhD students: 01 (Completed); 05 (ongoing) • PG Students: 06 (completed), 01 (ongoing) • UG Students: 05 (completed)
Undergraduate
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology; Medical Biotechnology; Cell-Based Assay in Biomedical Science, Medical Microbiology
Postgraduate
Medical Microbiology, General Microbiology
Extramural
- Decoding the traits of drug resistance: Studying the genetic factors contributing to the survivability and adaptability of gut pathogens in antibiotic rich environment, funded by DST-SERB, 2018-2021 [Budget: 34.35 Lakhs]. (Completed)
- Investigating antimicrobial efficacy of NANOBIOTICS against multidrug resistant gut pathogens, funded by ICMR, 2021-2024 [Budget: 47 lakhs] (Ongoing).
- Deciphering outer membrane protein-based resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and bacteriophage for effective control of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, funded by ICMR, 2020-2023 [Budget: 25.56 lakhs] (Ongoing).
- Combating cancer through alternative approaches: Investigating the antitumor properties of non-typhoidal Salmonella in transgenic zebrafish cancer models, funded by ICMR, 2021-2024 [Budget: 52 lakhs] (Ongoing).
- Development and characterization of a novel three-dimensional Biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the assessment of the mechanism of nonmucoid to mucoid strain conversion, virulence, antibiotic resistance and macrophage immune response ICMR, 2022-2025 [Budget: 32 lakhs] (Ongoing).
Intramural
- Effect of bile on the invasion and replication of drug resistant gut pathogens in Caco-2 cell line, funded by NitteDU, 2019-2021 [Budget: 1.9 Lakhs]. (Ongoing)
- Quantification of thiamine levels and analysis of thiamine transporter gene in suspected Shoshin beriberi cases affecting a restricted population of Coastal Karnataka, funded by NitteDU, 2019-2021 [Budget:1.5 Lakhs] (Completed)
- Generation of transgenic zebrafish models for elucidating the molecular mechanism of Mycobacterium infection, funded by NitteDU, 2018-2020 [Budget: 1.6 Lakhs]. (Completed)
- Microorganisms as anticancer agents: Determination of antitumour activity of nontyphoidal Salmonella serovars funded by NitteDU, 2016-2019 [Budget:2.5 Lakhs] (Completed)
- Abstracts in national/ international conference: 12
- Nucleotide sequence submissions to NCBI GenBank: 40
- Expressed sequence tag sequence submissions: 3175
- Bacterial whole genome sequence submission:06
- Invited Talks /Oral Presentation (National/International): 05
- National / International workshops / conferences / symposium attended: 33
Dr. KRISHNA KUMAR BALLAMOOLE
- Designation Associate Professor G-I
- Email krishnakumarb@nitte.edu.in
- Contact No. .
- Joining date
Dr. Krishna Kumar Ballamoole is a molecular microbiologist, obtained Ph.D. (Microbiology) from Manipal University. His research focuses on understanding and characterizing the genomic patterns that drives the evolution and infection capabilities of microbial pathogens of humans and animals. His work combines classical microbiological methods, molecular biology tool and next-generation sequencing strategies as fundamental tools to shed light on evolution, virulence capabilities and antibiotic resistance mechanisms in clinically relevant human and animal pathogens. In addition to pursuing the main research interest, the he is also involved in developing monoclonal antibody and nucleic acid based rapid diagnostics for the detection of pathogens.
- Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology), Manipal University, Manipal, 2014
- Master of Science (Microbiology), Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, 2009
- Assistant Professor - Grade-II, Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research, Mangaluru (2018-till date)
- Assistant Professor, Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research, Mangaluru (2014- 2018)
- Research Fellow, KVAFSU (2012-2014)
- Bacterial pathogenesis
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Molecular diagnostics
- Recipient of collaborative Joint Research initiative of the "Tropical Medicine Research Center", Nagasaki University, Japan
- KSET - Karnataka State Eligibility Test, 2020-21
- Best Research Paper Award, NitteDU, 2019
- Indo-Japanese Young Research Fellow, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Japan, 2019
- Early Career Research Award, DST-SERB, Govt. of India, 2017.
- EMBO short term Bfellowship, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, 2017
- Japan-Asia Youth Exchange program in Science (SAKURA exchange) awardee, 2015
- Invited talk at International Conference of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, 2015
- Member Secretary, Intuitional Ethics Committee
- Member, Student Welfare Committee
- Coordinator, NueLearn 2020-21, NUCSER
- Member, International Society of Infectious Diseases, USA
- Life Member, Society of Biological Chemists, India
- Life Member, Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), India
- Member, Professional Fisheries Graduates' Forum (PFGF), India
- Member, College of Fisheries Alumni Association, Mangalore, India
Selected Journal publications:
- Prithvisagar, K. S., Krishna Kumar, B., Kodama, T., Rai, P., Iida, T., Karunasagar, I., & Karunasagar, I. (2021). Whole genome analysis unveils genetic diversity and potential virulence determinants in Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with disease outbreak among cultured Litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) in India. Virulence, 12(1), 1936-1949
- Rai, P., Kille, S., Kotian, A., Kumar, B. K., Deekshit, V. K., Ramakrishna, M. S., ... & Karunasagar, I. (2021). Molecular investigation of the dengue outbreak in Karnataka, South India, reveals co-circulation of all four dengue virus serotypes. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 92, 104880
- D'Souza, C., Prithvisagar, K. S., Deekshit, V. K., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I., & Kumar, B. K. (2020). Exploring the Pathogenic Potential of Vibrio vulnificus Isolated from Seafood Harvested along the Mangaluru Coast, India. Microorganisms, 8(7), 999
- Rajesh, M.K., Muralikrishna, K.S., Nair, S.S., Kumar, B.K., Subrahmanya, T.M., Sonu, K.P., Subaharan, K., Sweta, H., Prasad, T.K., Chandran, N., Karunasagar, I. (2020) Facile coconut inflorescence sap mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its diverse antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. Materials Science and Engineering: C 111: 110834
- D'Souza, C., Kumar, B.K., Rai, P., Deekshit, V.K., Karunasagar, I. (2019). Application of gyrB targeted SYBR green based qPCR assay for the specific and rapid detection of Vibrio vulnificus in seafood. Journal of Microbiological Methods 166:105747
- Rohit, A., Kumar, D.S., Dhinakaran, I., Joy, J., Kumar, D.V., Kumar, B.K., Karunasagar, I., Karola, P. and Dag, H. (2019) Whole-genome-based analysis reveals multiclone Serratia marcescens outbreaks in a non-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit setting in a tertiary care hospital in India. Journal of Medical Microbiology 68: 616-621
- D'Souza, C., Kumar, B.K., Kapinakadu, S., Shetty, R., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. (2018) PCR-based evidence showing the presence of Vibrio vulnificus in wound infection cases in Mangaluru, India. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 68:74-76
- Deekshit, V.K., Kumar, B.K., Rai, P., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. (2015) Differential expression of virulence genes and role of gyrA mutations in quinolone resistant and susceptible strains of Salmonella Weltevreden and Newport isolated from seafood. Journal of Applied Microbiology 119:970-980
- Kumar, B.K., Deekshit, V.K., Raj, J.R.M., Rai, P., Shivanagowda, B.M., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. (2014) Diversity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with disease outbreak among cultured Litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) in India. Aquaculture 433:247-251
- Kumar, B.K., Deekshit, V.K., Rai, P., Shekar, M., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. (2014) Presence of T3SS2β genes in trh+ Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from seafood harvested along Mangalore coast, India. Letters in Applied Microbiology 58:440-446
- Kumar, B.K., Raghunath, P., Devegowda, D., Deekshit, V.K., Venugopal, M.N., Karunasagar, I., & Karunasagar, I. (2011) Development of monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA for the rapid detection of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood. International Journal of Food Microbiology 145:244-249
All Publications:
Google scholar ID: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=KpRyzTYAAAAJ&hl=en
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ballamoole-Kumar
Web of Science: https://publons.com/researcher/4048767/ballamoole-krishna-kumar/
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7821-7419
Patent filed: 02
Journal publications:
- Pinto, D. S., Prithvisagar, K. S., Rohit, A., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I., & Kumar, B. K. (2022). Genome analysis of clinical isolate of Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus MMM01 from India reveals genetic determinants of pathogenesis and adaptation. Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica. (In Press)
- Prithvisagar, K. S., Krishna Kumar, B., Kodama, T., Rai, P., Iida, T., Karunasagar, I., & Karunasagar, I. (2021). Whole genome analysis unveils genetic diversity and potential virulence determinants in Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with disease outbreak among cultured Litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) in India. Virulence, 12(1), 1936-1949.
- Rai, P., Kille, S., Kotian, A., Kumar, B. K., Deekshit, V. K., Ramakrishna, M. S., ... & Karunasagar, I. (2021). Molecular investigation of the dengue outbreak in Karnataka, South India, reveals co-circulation of all four dengue virus serotypes. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 92, 104880.
- D'Souza, C., Prithvisagar, K. S., Deekshit, V. K., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I., & Kumar, B. K. (2020). Exploring the Pathogenic Potential of Vibrio vulnificus Isolated from Seafood Harvested along the Mangaluru Coast, India. Microorganisms, 8(7), 999.
- D'Souza, C., Kumar, B.K., Rai, P., Deekshit, V.K., Karunasagar, I. (2019). Application of gyrB targeted SYBR green based qPCR assay for the specific and rapid detection of Vibrio vulnificus in seafood. Journal of Microbiological Methods 166:105747.
- Rohit, A., Kumar, D.S., Dhinakaran, I., Joy, J., Kumar, D.V., Kumar, B.K., Karunasagar, I., Karola, P. and Dag, H. (2019) Whole-genome-based analysis reveals multiclone Serratia marcescens outbreaks in a non-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit setting in a tertiary care hospital in India. Journal of Medical Microbiology 68: 616-621.
- D'Souza, C., Kumar, B.K., Kapinakadu, S., Shetty, R., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. (2018) PCR-based evidence showing the presence of Vibrio vulnificus in wound infection cases in Mangaluru, India. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 68:74-76.
- Kumar, B.K., Deekshit, V.K., Raj, J.R.M., Rai, P., Shivanagowda, B.M., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. (2014) Diversity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with disease outbreak among cultured Litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) in India. Aquaculture 433:247-251.
- Kumar, B.K., Deekshit, V.K., Rai, P., Shekar, M., Karunasagar, I., Karunasagar, I. (2014) Presence of T3SS2β genes in trh+ Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from seafood harvested along Mangalore coast, India. Letters in Applied Microbiology 58:440-446.
- Kumar, B.K., Raghunath, P., Devegowda, D., Deekshit, V.K., Venugopal, M.N., Karunasagar, I., & Karunasagar, I. (2011) Development of monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA for the rapid detection of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood. International Journal of Food Microbiology 145:244-249.
All Publications:
Google scholar ID: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=KpRyzTYAAAAJ&hl=en
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ballamoole-Kumar
Web of Science Researcher ID: https://publons.com/researcher/4048767/ballamoole-krishna-kumar/
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7821-7419
Patents
- Temp/E-1/31373/2021-CHE (Filled on 22nd June 2021). Unique primers for rapid detection test for SARS CoV-2 using loop-mediated isothermal amplification by Maiti, B., Rai, P., Anupama, K.P., Kumar, B.K. (Published)
- Temp/E-1/47842/2021-CHE (Filled on 20th September 2021). Consortium of Broad-spectrum jumbo bacteriophages for control of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas
PhD students: 02 (Completed); 05 (ongoing) PG Students: 07 (completed) UG Students: 05 (completed); Other students: 01
Undergraduate:
- Fundamentals of Immunology
- Food and Nutrition
Postgraduate:
- Immunology; Fish Immunology and Health Management; Molecular
- Diagnostics; Food Chemistry; Food Toxicology
Ongoing:
As PI:
- Elucidation of platelet activation and NLRP-3 inflammasome response in platelets during invasive Vibrio vulnificus infection to understand its potential role in the immunopathogenesis, funded by ICMR, Govt of India, 2022-2025 Budget: [27.62 lakhs]
- Pathogenomic and functional analysis to unravel the pathogenic potential of epidemic strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from environmental sources, funded by the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Japan, 2022-23 Budget: [600,000 yen]
As Co-PI/Co-I:
- Development of immunofluorescent nanodiagnostic assay as a point-of-care detection of dengue virus, Funded by DST-BDTD, 2021-2023 [Budget: 21.86 lakhs]
- DST-Technology Enabling Centre (TEC), funded by DST, 2019-2024.
- Development of monoclonal antibody against NS1 and E proteins of dengue virus, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2019-2021 [Budget: 1.9 lakhs].
- Antiviral properties of four medicinal plant extracts against dengue virus, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2018-2020 [Budget: 1.6 lakhs].
Projects completed:
As PI:
- Exploring the distribution and characterization of pathogenicity islands and ecological fitness genes in seafood associated Vibrio parahaemolyticus, funded by DST-SERB, 2018-2021 [26.66 lakhs]
- Tracing the molecular epidemiology of Leptospirosis and assessing its zoonotic transmission potential in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, Funded by Nitte (DU), 2019-2021 [Budget: 1.9 lakhs].
- Development of rapid point of care assay for the sensitive detection of Vibrio vulnificus; Funded by NitteDU, 2018-2020 [Budget: 2.5 lakhs]
- Effect of carbohydrate on quorum sensing mediated pathogenicity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Funded by NitteDU, 2018-2020 [Budget: 1.7 lakhs]
- Abstracts in national/ international conference: 10
- Nucleotide sequence submissions to NCBI GenBank: 50
- Expressed sequence tag sequence submissions: 3500
- Whole genome sequence (Bacteria/Viruses/Bacteriophages) submission:10
- Invited Talks /Oral Presentation (National/International): 04
- National / International workshops / conferences / symposium attended: 30
Dr. JULIET ROSHINI MOHAN RAJ
- Designation Assistant Professor G-II
- Email julietm@nitte.edu.in
- Contact No. .
- Joining date
In the current scenario where antibiotics no longer work, the need for alternative strategies have looked at phage therapy and I have been actively involved in research on phage-based therapeutics not only for human therapeutic use but also biocontrol in foods for more than 10 years.
- Addressal officer, Institutional Grievance, NUCSER
- Member, Student Welfare Committee, NUCSER
- Member, Lab infrastructure committee, NUCSER
- Member, Women’s Cell, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional Research Cell, NUCSER
- Doctor of Philosophy ( Biological Sciences), Nitte (Deemed to be University) , 2018
- Master of Science( Microbiology), Bangalore University,2007
Assistant Professor - Grade I, Nitte University Centre for science education and research, Mangaluru (Nov 2018 till date)
Lecturer, Nitte University Centre for science education and research, Mangaluru (Sep 2014 –Oct 2018 )
Project Assistant, UNESCO MIRCEN for Marine Biotechnology, College of Fisheries, Mangaluru (Feb 2013-July 2014).
Senior Research Associate, Gangagen Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd.,Bengaluru (July 2017-Feb 2010).
Phage therapy and phage biology
Infectious diseases
Bacteriology
Summer Fellowship awarded jointly by Indian Academy of Science-Indian National Science Academy and National Academy of Science India, 2019
Japan-Asia Youth Exchange program in Science (SAKURA exchange), 2017
CSIR-UGC NET for Lectureship, 2013
- Addressal officer, Institutional Grievance, NUCSER
- Member, Student Welfare Committee, NUCSER
- Member, Lab infrastructure committee, NUCSER
- Member, Women's Cell, NUCSER
- Member, Institutional Research Cell, NUCSER
- Institutional Grievance Redressal officer, NUCSER
- Member, Lab infrastructure committee, NUCSER
- Member, Women's Cell, NUCSER
- Member, Indian Network for Soil Contamination Research, India
- Member, Society for Bacteriophage Research and Therapy, India
- Prabhakara AM, Nanjappa DP, Kotian A, Kalladka K, Chakraborty G, Vittal R, Raj JR, Deekshit VK, Chakraborty A (2022) Wild-type and cancer-prone zebrafish exhibit distinct gut microbial diversity and differential anti-inflammatory response upon infection. Journal of Biosciences. Dec;47(4): Article 65.
- Poojari K, Akhila DS, Raj JM, Santhosh KS, Kenjar A, Ashwath P (2022) Biocontrol of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in poultry meat using phage cocktail. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research.2022;23(3):270-274.
- Rai P, Shetty SS, Prabell S, Kuntar A, Pinto D, Kumar BK, Divyashree M, Raj JRM, Premanath R, Deekshit VK, Karunasagar I, Karunasagar I(2022) Characterisation of broad-spectrum phiKZ like jumbo phage and its utilisation in controlling multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Microbial Pathogogenesis.172:105767. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105767.
- Srujana AS, Sonalika J, Akhila DS, Juliet MR, Sheela P(2022) Isolation of phages and study of their In vitro efficacy on Staphylococcus aureus isolates originating from bovine subclinical mastitis.Indian Journal of Animal Research.56:754-758.
- Vittal R, Mohanraj JR, Chakraborty G (2022) Rapid Detection of Salmonella spp from Meat: Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), Journal of Pure Applied Microbiology.16(2):929-936 .
- Vittal R, Raj JR, Kumar BK, Karunasagar I (2022) Advances in environmental detection and clinical diagnostic tests for Legionella species. Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU, India. 2022 ;12(02): 168-174.
- Hassan M, Vittal R, Raj JM, Chakraborty G (2022) Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): a sensitive molecular tool for detection of Staphylococcus aureus in meat and dairy product. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology. 2022;53(1):341-347.
Google scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6Mx7uQUAAAAJ
PhD (4 ongoing) M.Sc (8 completed, 2 ongoing) B.Sc (10 completed)
Undergraduate-
Physical and Inorganic Chemistry
Post graduate-
Microbial Physiology
Food Microbiology
Medical Microbiology
Research Methodology
Techniques in Biomedical Science
Bioprocess Engineering and Technology,
Bioprocessing and Fermentation Technology
Marine Bioprocess Technology
Bioethics and Biosafety
Food Microbiology
Medical Microbiology
Research Methodology
Techniques in Biomedical Science
Bioprocess Engineering and Technology,
Bioprocessing and Fermentation Technology
Marine Bioprocess Technology
Bioethics and Biosafety
Bacteriophages and their products for controlling the biofilms of drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, Co-Investigator, SERB,2022-2024
Intramural Funding
- Biocontrol of biofilm forming bacteria isolated from diabetic ulcers using phage, funded by NitteDU,as PI, 2018-2020
- Utility of polymerase chain reaction in the identification of dermatophytes in recalcitrant dermatophytosis, funded by NitteDU, Co PI , 2018-2020
- Evaluation of resistant genes in recalcitrant Dermatophytosis - A PCR based study, funded by NitteDU, 2018-2020
- Identification of novel enzybiotics using phage fragmentation, Principal Investigator, funded by NitteDU, 2020-2022
